SPRINGFIELD— After months of testimony and deliberation, members of the Senate’s Redistricting Committee laid out plans today that will reshape the way Illinois conducts redistricting. The Senate Redistricting Committee, chaired by Sen. Kwame Raoul, was created at the beginning of the 96th General Assembly by Senate President Cullerton to address reforms to Illinois’ redistricting process. Since that time the Committee has held 6 subject-matter hearings in areas across the state receiving comprehensive testimony on redistricting proposals filed. After careful consideration of witness accounts, members of the Redistricting Committee are proposing legislation that would provide meaningful reform to the state’s redistricting process. 

“After a comprehensive review of the state’s redistricting process on thing is abundantly clear - Illinois can no longer redistrict by lottery,” Chairman Kwame Raoul. “Any reform to the state’s redistricting process must ensure that everyone can participate and guarantee a map is created which benefits all Illinoisans – not just partisanship.”

Committee members contend that the final redistricting proposal should:

·      Abolish the tie breaker provision of picking a name out of a hat

Illinois shouldn’t rely on the luck of the draw to provide an adequate map for the state. In the event of partisan gridlock, Senate Democrats would adopt a special master selection process included in the Paul Simon Institute Proposal (HJRCA 44 – 95^th GA). The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and a justice of the opposite political party would jointly select a joint Special Master who would draw the map.

·     Allow everyone to participate in the map drawing process

The Senate Democrats’ proposal would share all data through the State Board of Elections and allow people to submit their own map plans. While Leaders Cross and Radogno’s plan would exclude Illinoisans from the process, Senate Democrats want to adopt a plan which gets everyone involved.

·      Protect communities of interest and minority groups

Illinois has made significant process to ensure the voices of minorities and communities of interest are heard in the legislature. Leaders Cross and Radogno have trumpeted diversity as a pillar of their plan; however, it may achieve the opposite.

One of the benefits of the current redistricting process is that mapmakers are able to go above and beyond specifications of the Voting Rights Act. The Republican proposal would not allow mapmakers to draw cross-over districts, which exist under our current legislative map.  Instead, the Republican proposal makes the Voting Rights Act as a ceiling for minority voting rights protection, rather than floor like the Senate Democratic proposal.

·      Prioritize criteria to provide the best map for all Illinoisans

The proposal would require the following criteria be put in place to ensure a fair map for Illinois (in order of priority)

1. Comply with all applicable Federal laws
2. Substantially equal in population
3. Contiguous
4. Respect to the extent practical communities of interest
5. Respect to the extent practical municipal boundaries
6. Compact
7. Allows de-nesting.

·      Place accountability on map makers

Map plans will be subject to public hearings so the public can offer their views in geographic areas across the state, much like the hearings conducted by the Redistricting Committee.

The Senate Democrats contend their plan is based on the Paul Simon Institute’s proposal which received overwhelming bi-partisan support in the 95^th General Assembly. The House passed the Paul Simon Institute’s redistricting reform proposal (HJRCA 44 – Brosnahan/Righter) by a overwhelming bipartisan vote of 98-10-1 during the previous general assembly.

“During my tenure as the Chair of the Senate’s Redistricting Committee, I’ve conducted legislative hearings on all of the redistricting proposals in a fair, honest and transparent way. Our redistrict process should mirror those principles.” Raoul added. ”I look forward to working with Illinoisans to provide meaningful reform to a process that has brought negative attention to Illinois.”